The number of small businesses in Tasmania decreased by 6.4% from 1995-96 to 2000-01. Over the same period, increases occurred in total expenses (4.0%), total income (5.1%), profit (15.2%) and average income (12.2%).

In 1995-96 and 2000-01, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had the highest number and proportion of small businesses with 6,937 businesses (20.4%) and 6,588 businesses (20.7%), respectively in these periods. In 1995-96, the highest total profits were turned by the construction industry, $125.9 million, and the property and business services industry, $116.4 million. In 2000-01, the highest profits were turned by the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, $170.4 million, and the property and business services industry, $130.7 million.

Note: these data are based on experimental estimates and therefore should be used with care. The publication Experimental Estimates, Regional Small Business Statistics, Australia (cat. no. 5675.0) provides information on data quality and methodology.

SMALL BUSINESS STATISTICS(a)(b)(c)(d), Tasmania

Number of businesses(e)

Total expenses

Total income

Profit

Average income

Industry

no.

$m

$m

$m

$000

1995-96 r

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

6,937

956.8

1,039.9

83.1

149.9

Mining

102

32.4

35.6

3.2

349.0

Manufacturing

2,015

520.9

562.8

41.9

279.3

Electricity, gas and water supply

-

-

-

-

-

Construction

5,837

682.1

808.0

125.9

138.4

Wholesale trade

1,110

501.8

522.2

20.4

470.5

Retail trade

5,291

1,992.2

2,080.8

88.6

393.3

Accommodation, cafes and restaurants

1,199

412.7

428.9

16.2

357.7

Transport and storage

1,576

275.8

311.5

35.7

197.7

Communication services

-

-

-

-

-

Finance and insurance

1,150

125.3

210.8

85.5

183.3

Property and business services

3,851

582.5

698.9

116.4

181.5

Government administration and defence

-

-

-

-

-

Education

138

5.7

7.5

1.8

54.3

Health and community services

1,284

225.7

273.7

47.9

213.2

Cultural and recreational services

674

70.6

76.1

5.5

112.9

Personal and other services

1,411

143.9

167.8

23.9

118.9

Not described(f)

-

-

-

-

-

Total

33,938

6,732.8

7,455.8

722.9

219.7

2000-01

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

6,588

1,140.9

1,311.4

170.4

199.1

Mining

89

59.3

55.4

-3.9

622.5

Manufacturing

1,983

523.2

570.1

46.9

287.5

Electricity, gas and water supply

-

-

-

-

-

Construction

4,677

705.6

806.6

101.0

172.5

Wholesale trade

959

423.2

449.3

26.2

468.5

Retail trade

4,381

1,834.8

1,928.8

94.0

440.3

Accommodation, cafes and restaurants

1,234

451.2

469.5

18.3

380.5

Transport and storage

1,645

334.7

376.3

41.6

228.8

Communication services

-

-

-

-

-

Finance and insurance

1,293

197.2

308.2

111.1

238.4

Property and business services

4,254

711.2

841.9

130.7

197.9

Government administration and defence

-

-

-

-

-

Education

155

8.2

10.3

2.2

66.5

Health and community services

1,453

269.6

332.9

63.3

229.1

Cultural and recreational services

716

74.7

82.1

7.5

114.7

Personal and other services

1,529

173.2

203.6

30.4

133.2

Not described(f)

560

63.1

53.8

-9.4

96.1

Total

31,770

7,001.5

7,834.2

832.7

246.6

- nil or rounded to zero
r revised(a) 'Small business' refers to those businesses whose total income and/or expenses were $10,000 or more, up to a limit of $5 million, in the financial year and operate from a single location. Note: this differs from the standard ABS small business definition.(b) These estimates are considered experimental and should be used with caution.(c) Data are derived using Australian Taxation Office (ATO) files for companies, partnerships and trusts and individuals for 1995-96 and 2000-01. Includes non-employing businesses.(d) Differences between Small Business and ABS Business Register data are due to differences in scope, reference period, statistical unit and the definition of data items.(e) The decrease in the number of businesses operated by individuals and partnerships and trusts in 2000-01 should be interpreted with care. It could be because of administrative reasons e.g. it may reflect a different focus from the ATO in 2000-01, or a lower number of business tax submissions received by the due date. (f) Includes records that could not be allocated an ANZSIC code.

Source: ABS data available on request, Regional Small Business Statistics.